Constructional kit



Nov. 19, 1963 N. R. HUEY CONSTRUCTIONAL KIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.5, 1961 INVENTOR NORMAN R. HUEY,

HIS ATTORNEY.

Nov. 19, 1963 N. R. HUEY CONSTRUCTIONAL KIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.3, 1961 INVENTOR NORMAN R. HUEY,

BY W (i m,

HIS ATTORNEY.

3,111,219 Fatented Nov. 19, 1963 3,111,219 CONSTRUCTKGNAL K11 Norman R.Huey, New Hartford, N.Y., assignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Filed Jan. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 819,507 6 Claims.(Cl. Mid-45.34)

This invention relates to constructional kits, for example kits forconstructing electronic devices such as radios, transmitters, computers,and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved package forconstructional kits.

Another object is to provide an improved arrangement for merchandisingand displaying constructional kits.

A further object is to reduce the cost of constructional kits.

Still other objects will be apparent from the following description andclaims, and from the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention,looking toward the top thereof,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, looking towardthe bottom thereof,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembled kit of the type shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, looking toward the front thereof,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention, looking toward the top thereof,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an assembled kit of the type shown inFIG. 4, looking toward the top thereof, and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified kit of the type shown in FIG.4.

The invention comprises, basically, a kit of parts packaged in a boxwhich serves as the cabinet of the completed kit. This box preferably ispartially or entirely transparent so that the contents thereof can beattractively displayed. Thus, for merchandising purposes, a prospectivepurchaser may readily see the parts of the kit, and can also immediatelydiscern the size, shape, and appearance of the cabinet of the device tobe built with the kit. By using the dual-function box for both thepackage and for the cabinet, the cost of the kit may be reduced, inaddition to the aforesaid advantage of simultaneously displaying thecabinet and the component parts of the kit.

Now referring to the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the kit comprises a box 11 of suitable size and shape tofunction as the cabinet for the completed kit, as well as functioning asthe container for the parts of the kit before and during the =assem blythereof. The box 11 consists of a base or bottom part 12, which may beopaque, and a top part 13 which may be transparent. The top and bottomparts of the box are arranged to open apart, and this may beaccomplished by hinging the parts 12 and 13 together along one sidethereof, or, if desired, these parts 12 and 13 may be completelyseparable. The top and bottom parts 12 and 13 of the box 11 preferablyare arranged to fit together tightly by any well-known means such as asnug overlapping fit therebetween, or by means of screws, hooks, orother well-known devices for holding the parts of a box together.

Component parts of the kit are attached to a cardboard display sheet 14which is positioned in the box 11 near or against the bottom 12 thereof,with the component parts being on the upper side of the sheet 14 so thatthey may be viewed through the transparent top 13 of the box. Exemplarycomponent parts, which are carried by the sheet 14, are resistors,capacitors, coils, instruction book, hardware, etc. Some of thesecomponents are shown in the drawing and designated by the numeral 16.The component parts may be attached to the sheet 14 by means of theirown lead wires, or by means of suitable clips or staples. The sheet 14may be suitably held in place by means of tightly fitting against thesides of the box 11,

or by fitting into suitable slots in the sides of the box 11, or byattaching it to the bottom 12 of the box by means of an adhesive thatpermits ready removal of the sheet 14 from the box 11 when desired.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom of the box :11, which is to function asthe front panel of the cabinet of the completed kit, is provided withsuitable openings 17 through which screws or rivets may be inserted forattaching component parts within the box, and through which controlshafts of switches, potentiometers, tuning capacitors, or other devicesmay extend. A plurality of additional openings 18 is provided to serveas a grille for a loudspeaker.

As shown in FIG. 3, the completed kit includes a knob or dial 19attached to a shaft (not shown) which extends through one of theopenings 17 in the bottom part 12 of the box 11. A loudspeaker (notshown) is mounted within the box 11 behind the openings 18.

In the kit form, the sheet 14 on which the component parts 16 aremounted serves an additional function of covering over the openings 17and 18, thereby preventing any loose component parts from falling out ofthe box through these openings, and preventing dirt and dust fromentering into the box.

If desired, the box 1 1 when in kit form can be protected from dirt andfrom scratching, by enclosing it in a transparent wrapping of plasticfilm or other suitable material.

In the alternative embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, amounting board 21 is provided over the inside of the bottom part 12 ofthe box 11, and may carry a layout diagram to serve as a guide inplacing the component parts and wiring of the kit, and may also beprovided with suitable connector terminals for electrically connectingtogetherthe various parts and wiring of the kit. This mounting board 21is shown in FIG. 5. In the kit form, shown in FIG. 4, the cardboardsheet 14 which holds the various component parts of the kit, ispositioned on top of the mounting board 21.

If desired, openings for control shafts and mounting screws,loudspeaker, and the like, may be provided in the bottom part 12 of thebox, and also through the mounting board 21, so that the bottom part 12of the box will function as the front panel of the complete-d kit asshown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,however, these openings are provided through a side 22 of the box 11,and this side of the box functions as the front panel of the completedkit. As shown in FIG. 5, knobs 23 are attached to control shafts ofswitches, otentiometers, tuning capacitors, or other devices, theseshafts extending through the openings 17. A loudspeaker 24 is shownattached inside the box 11' behind the grille openings 18. An escutcheonstrip 26, which is one of the component parts of the kit, is attached tothe side 22 of the box 11 by suitable means such as screws or anadhesive, and may be provided with printed indicia 27 to indicate thefunctions of the various knobs 2-3.

In the kit shown in FIG. 4, the openings 17 and 18 may be covered, ifdesired, by a front flap of the component parts mounting sheet 14 whichextends upwardly from the bottom part 12 of the box and is positionedagainst the inside surface of the side 22. This flap 26 prevents anyloose component parts from falling out through the openings 17 and 18,and also prevents dust and dirt from entering the box 11.

The openings 17 and 18 of the kit box 11, in the kit form of any of theembodiments of the invention, may be covered by a strip of thincardboard or metal secured to the surface of the box 11 by means ofadhesive and located to cover over the openings 17 and 18. Duringassembly of the kit, holes are cut or punched through this strip inalignment with the openings 17 and 18, by means of a knife, screwdriver,or other object. This covering strip may serve as an escutcheon plateand may be provided with suitable markings 29 as shown in FIG.

6. Alternatively, these'openings 17 and 18 may be only partly formed inthe box 11, as by deep circular scoring or by leaving a thin membrane ofmaterial in the openings so that these openings may be punched outduring assembly of the kit.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, various other embodiments and modifications thereof will beapparent to those skilled in the arts, and will be within the scope ofthe invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An electrical circuit constructional kit to be assembled into anoperating device enclosed in a cabinet and having at least one externalcontrol for controlling the operation of said device, said kitcomprising component parts of the electrical circuit and a boxcontaining said component puts in unassembled condition, one of saidunassembled parts comprising said external control, said box comprisingsaid cabinet for the kit when assembled, the bottom of said boxcomprising the panel of the assembled kit and containing at least oneopening through which said external control extends outside said cabinetafter the kit is assembled, and a display sheet positioned in said boxover said opening, said unassembled component parts being mounted ontile said display sheet.

2. A constructional kit comprising unassembled component parts of anelectrical device having a control panel and a box containing saidcomponent parts, said box being dimensioned to comprise a cabinet forthe component parts when assembled, a side of said box being dimensionedto comprise the control panel of the assembled kit and containing atleast one opening through which at least one of said component parts isintended to extend after the kit is assembled, a component mountingboard positioned in said box at the bottom thereof and being dimensionedto support said component parts in working arrangement when the kit isassembled, a display sheet positioned in said box over said mountingboard, said unassembled component parts being mounted on said displaysheet and means for closing said opening in sai side comprising, saiddisplay sheet being provided with a flap extending upwardly and coveringsaid opening.

3. An educational kit in the form of a combined cabinet and displayarrangement for components to be as sembled into an electrical devicehaving an enclosing cabinet and a control shaft for electricallycontrol-ling said device, said kit comprising unassembled componentparts and a box, said box comprising a bottom section and a transparentcomplementary top section, said sections forming a shipping cabinettherebetween for said unassembled component parts, said unassembledcomponent parts being supported on said bottom section and visiblethrough said transparent top section for display purposes, one of saidunassembled parts comprising said control shaft, at least one of saidsections having an opening through which said control shaft extendsoutside said one section after the kit is assembled, said top sectionbeing removable to permit assembly of said unassembled component partsinto said device, said top section also forming with said bottom sectionsaid enclosing cabinet for said assembled device.

4. An educational kit in the form of a combined cabinet and displayarrangement for components to be assembled into an electrical devicehaving an enclosing cabinet and a control slaw for controlling saiddevice, said kit comprising unassembled components parts and a box, saidbox comprising a transparent section, means for supporting saidunassembled components parts within said box so as to be visible throughsaid transparent section for display purposes, one of said unassembledparts comprising said control shait, said box being provided with anopening through which said control shaft extends to the outside of thebox after the kit is assembled, and means whereby said box can be openedto permit as sembly of said component parts into said device, said boxfunctioning as said enclosing cabinet for the assembled device.

5 A kit as claimed in claim 4, comprising means normally covering saidopening comprising a strip of material positioned on said box andcovering said opening, a portion of said strip being removable at saidopening when kit is assembled, said strip comprising an escutcheon ofthe assembled kit and being provided with indicia to indicate thefunction of said component having a control shaft. 7

6. A kit as claimed in claim 4, comprising means normally covering saidopening comprising a display sheet, said unassembled component partsbeing mounted on said display sheet, and said display sheet beingpositioned in said box over said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,064,813 Bloomberg June 17, 1913 1,192,530 Kirk July 25, 1916 1,933,338Plishker Oct. 31, 1933 2,111,025 Galler Mar. 15, 1938 2,157,954 GouldMay 9, 1939 2,722,778 Carufel Nov. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 471,028 GreatBritain Aug. 26, 1937 670,982 Great Britain Apr. 30, 1952 OTHERREFERENCES Allied Radio Cat. No. 180, 1959, pages 2-54 and 256.

3. AN EDUCATIONAL KIT IN THE FORM OF A COMBINED CABINET AND DISPLAYARRANGEMENT FOR COMPONENTS TO BE ASSEMBLED INTO AN ELECTRICAL DEVICEHAVING AN ENCLOSING CABINET AND A CONTROL SHAFT FOR ELECTRICALLYCONTROLLING SAID DEVICE, SAID KIT COMPRISING UNASSEMBLED COMPONENT PARTSAND A BOX, SAID BOX COMPRISING A BOTTOM SECTION AND A TRANSPARENTCOMPLEMENTARY TOP SECTION, SAID SECTIONS FORMING A SHIPPING CABINETTHEREBETWEEN FOR SAID UNASSEMBLED COMPONENT PARTS, SAID UNASSEMBLEDCOMPONENT PARTS BEING SUPPORTED ON SAID BOTTOM SECTION AND VISIBLETHROUGH SAID TRANSPARENT TOP SECTION FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES, ONE OF SAIDUNASSEMBLED PARTS COMPRISING SAID CONTROL SHAFT, AT LEAST ONE OF SAIDSECTIONS HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH SAID CONTROL SHAFT EXTENDSOUTSIDE SAID ONE SECTION AFTER THE KIT IS ASSEMBLED, SAID TOP SECTIONBEING REMOVABLE TO PERMIT ASSEMBLY OF SAID UNASSEMBLED COMPONENT PARTSINTO SAID DEVICE, SAID TOP SECTION ALSO FORMING WITH SAID BOTTOM SECTIONSAID ENCLOSING CABINET FOR SAID ASSEMBLED DEVICE.